Biz idea: selling pre-made gardens

Hi,

Here's a summary of an article on making and selling raised-bed gardens. Would anyone be interested in discussing how to market and fulfill this product most efficiently?

[summary begins]

* Raised beds are said to be the best way to garden.

* The drawback to raised bed gardens made from boards or the like is that they are expensive.

* Tires are one possible answer. A standard P235/75R15 tire is said to have 4 square feet of growing space when you cut out the sides right up to the tread. The bed is 8 1/2 inches above the ground.

* Tires unsuitable for driving are said to be inexpensive and readily available.

* The sides of the tires are cut off close to the treads and the tires are turned inside out. This is said to be easily done with the sides cut off.

* The new outside (formerly the inside) of the tires should be decorated with paint. The article says: "Turning the tires inside-out has five advantages. First is that the deep-rooted plants can go deeper without being stopped by the rim. Second is that the tires gain an inch or more in height. Third is that they are straight instead of rounded, making for slightly more space. Fourth, they save paint, as the treads take up much more paint that the smooth insides. Fifth, if you are selling tire gardens, you can pile them like rubber bands in your pickup, using up less space."

* Two rows of 5 tires forms a ten-tire garden. The tires are filled with suitable soil, and the spaces between the tires are also filled for more growing room.

* A tire garden for sale consists of 10 tires, four wire cages (two for tomatoes, one for cucumbers and one for squash). Add the planting medium (mix soil and compost together). $250 is a price suggested by the article I read.

* According to the article "Most older people would shell out $250.00 in a minute to insure a large portion of their food for the rest of their lives."

* Bonuses and perceived value enhancers for something like this are easily conceptualized and easily produced by info-product wizzes like us. :-)

* Buy soil in bulk for the cheapest price.

* Set up your own tire garden and invite the local newspaper to do a story.

* A tire recycling book is said to be available and to have more uses for tires.

[summary ends]

Thanks in advance for any replies,

- Boyd

I don't see why Dien would mind this link. But I've been wrong once or twice before! hehe


Making & Selling Tire Gardens

Hi Boyd:

One thing that should be taken into account if the tires are being used for vegetable gardens is the possible potential of the leaching of heavy metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the tires.

The tires should be lined with plastic to prevent the possibility of contaminating the the soil and thus the vegetables.

This actually applies to any framework used in constructing or erecting raised beds where food for human consumption is to be grown.

Cornell